Indicating means



' March 27, 1926. 1,663,661

B. F. HUTCHES, JR

INDICATING MEANS Filed NOV. 16. 1926 INVENTOR Nu Zc he 8, .75.,

' stantiall'y central through Patented Mar. 27, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

INDICATING MEANS.

Application filed November 16, 1926. Serial No. 148,633.

This invention relates to time indicating means particularly adapted for use in motor vehicles for ascertaining the elapsed parking time of a vehicle, although it is also adapted for other purposes, and it is the object of the invention to provide an indicating device for this purpose which is novel, cheap to manufacture and efiicient in use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a time indicating device for this purpose and a bracket to adjustably mount the same, asupon the door of a motor ve hicle, whereby when the device has been adjusted for use the same may be readily observed, and when notin use may be adjusted into the bracket and out of sight.

In carrying out the invention there is provided a casing arranged with a clock dial and concentrically mounted hour and minute indicating hands movable relative to said dial and co-operating therewith to indicate time, means for adjusting or setting said hands, and means to make said adjust ing means impossible of manipulation by an unauthorized person, and provide a bracket arranged for the adjustable mounting of said device therein whereby it may be readily observed'when in one adjusted position upon the bracket and out of view in another position thereof.

In the drawing accompanying and forming a part of this specification Figure 1 is a front elevation of an embodiment of my improved indicating device and showing the same mounted in a supporting bracket therefor.

Figure 2 is a view looking at the rear of Figure 1 with the casing partly broken away to show the operative connection of the hour and minute hands and the means for adjusting or setting the same in inoperative position and locked in such condition.

Figure'3 is ase'ctional view taken sub;- Fi 'ure 2 and looking toward the right thereof Figure 4 isa sectional detail view of the hand setting means and showing the means for rendering the same inoperative adjusted to position to permit actuationfof said means for setting the hands. v

Figure an a detail view, partly in section, of means for releasably retaining the device in thebracket in the adjusted position shown in Figures 1 to 3.

Figur 6 is a sectional side elevation show ing a modified construction and arrangement of my improved indicating device and showing the same adjusted to operative position in a supporting bracket therefor; and

Figure? is a front elevation on a reduced scale of the device shown in Figure 6.

In carrying out the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 1 to there is provided a casing, which may be of the conventional watch case form, including a body 8 with a crystal carrying front 9 and a back 10, with a dial 11, such as a clock dial, mounted in the casing below the crystal, said dial being calibrated in the usual manner to indicate twelve hours of time with the spaces between the hour indications divided to read and indicate five minutes. A hand or pointer 12, to constitute the minute hand, is mounted on one end of an arbor in the form of a sleeve 13 extending centrally through the dial with the hand arranged in juxtaposed relation to the front of the dial, said arbor beingv rotatably mounted in a frame (designated in a general way by F) in the casing. A hand or pointer 14, to constitute the hour hand, is mounted concentrically relatively to the minute hand for revoluble movement about the dial in juxtaposed relation to the minute hand by engaging the same upon the end of a shaft 15 rotatably supported in the arbor 13. The hands are geared together to revolve the hands about the dial by the movement of one of the hands in the ratio of one revolution of the hour hand to twelve revolutions of the minute hand. For this purpose a gear 16 fixed to the arbor meshes with a pinion 17 fixed to a shaft 18 rotatably mounted in the flilH-IOWOIk, and a gear 19 on u? said latter shaft meshes with a pinion 2O fixed to the shaft 15 carrying the hour hand. To actuate the gearing to revolve the hands. a pinion 21 fixed to or integral with the arbor13 meshes with a pinion 22 fixed to a shaft 23 mounted in ears stamped from the framework, as at 24, to rotate-on an axis transverse to the axiso-f the pinion 21, said shaft also having a pinion 25 fixed thereon. A stem in the form of a shaft 26 is mounted in a bearing27 in theicasing wall to have axial sliding and rotative movement on an axis parallel to the axis of shaft 23, with a knurled head 28 fixed to an end of the shaft exterior of the casing and said head embracing and having. sliding movement with the shaft relative to a sleeve 29 carried at one end by the casing and enclosing the shaft 26 and its hearing. The stem carries a pinion 3O thereon within the casing to mesh with the pinion andby the rotation of which pinion with theshaft the hands are revolved through the pinion 25, The stem is normally urged to position with the pinion 3:30 carried thereby out of mesh with the pinion as shown in Figures 2 and 3 by a spring 31 coiled about the shaft 26 and con lined between the bearing 27 and head 28. To operatively connect the stem with the pinion to set the hands relative to the dial axial inward movement is imparted to the stem thereby throwing the pinion 30 into mesh with the pinion 25 and as the stem is rotated rotative movement is imparted to the pinion and thereby the hands revolved about the dial.

As stated, the device is particularly adapted for ascertaining the elapsed time of the parking of a motor vehicle. For this purpose the hands are set to correspond with the time when the vehicle is parked to indicate the commencement of the time the vehicle was parked, the parking time or period being ascertained by the time indication to which the hands are set and comparing the same with the time indicated by a watch or clock.

To prevent tampering with and unauthorized setting of the hands means are provided to render the setting stem inoperative or look the same in its inoperative position with the pinion 30 carried thereby out of mesh with the pinion 25. For this purpose a rod 82 is carried by a bracket 33 fixed to the frame to have rotative movement on an axis transverse to the axis of the stem, as by arranging a screw thread. on a portion of the rod for threaded connection with ears extending from the bracket, as shown at 34. One end of the rod is extended or bent laterally substantially at a right angle, as at 35, and arranged in the plane of axial movement of the stem, said extended portion being in the nature of an abutment to he moved into the path and extend longitudinally oi the plane of movement of the stem and to be engaged by the end of the stem to prevent inward movement thereof ainst the action of the spring 31 and with the pinion 30 out of mesh with the pinion 25 as shown in Figure 4;. While the stem may be rotated in this position it is incapable of having axial movement imparted. thereto to throw the pinion 30 into mesh with the pinion To render the stem operative the rod is adjusted so that the projection 35 will extend laterally of the path of the axial movement of the stem, as shown in Figure 2. To rotatably adjust the rod the end opposits to the projection 35 is arranged in line with an opening36 in the casing and has a transverse slot therein for the engagement of a key or the like inserted into said opening.

In the use of the device with motor vehicles it is preferably mounted upon the door, and particularly when used with vehicles having closed bodies, for observation through the door window. For this purpose the device is adjustably mounted in a bracket 38 fixed to the vehicle door in which the device is pivotally mounted, as at 3:59, the bracket being seal-ranged that as the device is adjusted to one position, as shown in Figures 1 to 3, thefront of the device will extend above the lower portion of the window frame for observation through the door window, and releasably retained in such position by a spring influenced detent, as shown at 4:0 in Figure In another position of the device it is swung on itspivot support 39 in the bracket in a direction toward the left as viewed in Figure 3 to suspend the device from its pivot support so that the parts shown uppermost in Figure 3 will be lowermost, and in which position the device .will be out of view through the window. I

In the embodiment shown in Figures 6 and 7 there is provided a cup shaped casing 41 of rectangular form, although it may be of circular or other desired form. The dial 11 is mounted 011 one face of a plate 42 which serves as a mounting frame for the concentrically arranged arbor 13 and shaft 15 and for the rotatable mounting oi? the interi'ned'iate pinion 17 and gear 19, said latter pinion and gear being rotatably supported upon a headed and shouldered stud 43 fixed in the plate. "he plate is arranged with a flange 4a to lie in contiguous relation to the side wall. of the casing to hold the same against canting movement and limit the movement of the same into the casing by engaging with the bottom thereof whereby the plate or frame in conjunction with the casing serves to enclose the hand operating gearing. The

end of the shaft 15 opposite to that carrying the hand is extended and reduced and has a bearing in the bottom of the casing, as at 4:5. In this arrangemei'it the hour hand 14; is mounted on the arbor while a minute hand 12 is mounted on the shaft 15. To actuate the gearing to set the hands relative to the dial the shaft 15 is extended for wardly of the hand and has a ki'iurled head 46 fixed thereto. To render the hands impossible of manipulation to set the same by an unauthorized person the casing is ex tended beyond the dial and hands and is closed by a crystal carrying frame 46 pivotally mounted on the casing, as at 47. The crystal carrying frame is releasablv secured in casing closing position by a hasp 48 pivotally connected to said frame carrying a staple or keeper 49 for engagement in an opening in the casing wall and the casing of a key operated lock 50 mounted within the Hie casing 41 for the engagement of the bolt of said look. A bracket 38 is provided for mounting the device for the purpose set forth in connection with the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 3, the device being mounted in the bracket by extending the hinge pin for connecting the crystal carrying frame 16 with the casing beyond the casing and engaging said extended ends in ears 51 extending laterally of the bracket, these ears being arranged to also embrace opposite side portions of the casing when the device 18 adjusted to the position shown in Figure 6, and adapted to be sprung laterally by the passage between the ears of pins 53 fixed in and projecting laterally from the casing and which pins are adapted to engage upon said extended portion of the ears when the device is adjusted to the position shown in said figure. y

In the arrangement of Figures 1 to 3 the device may be provided with means to suspend the device instead of mounting it in a bracket, which means may comprise a split ring 51 carried by the sleeve 29 for the attachment of a suspending chain 01: cord. The dial may have a suitable indication thereon, such as the word Parked to give notice to an observer that the time indicated by the setting of the hands relative to dial is the time of the beginning of the parking period of the car.

Variations may be made in construction and arrangement of parts, and portions of the invention may be used without others and come within the scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention I claim:

1. In a time indicating device, a casing arranged with a dial calibrated for hours and minutes, concentrically rotatable hour and minute hands mounted centrally of the dial and one rotatable from the rotation of the other, means for setting said hands relative to the dial normally out of operative relation therewith and adapted to be moved into operative connection therewith, and means operative independently of and cooperating with the setting means to positively lock said setting means in inoperative position.

2. In a time indicating device, a casing arranged with a clock dial, hour and minute hands mounted concentrically in the casing centrally of the dial for movement relative thereto, gearing for operatively connecting and rotating the hands one from the other, means for actuating said gearing from the exterior of the casing and thereby set the hands relative to the dial, said means being normally out of operative connection with the gearing and adapted to be moved into operative connection therewith, and means operative independent of the gearing actuating means of the hand setting means for locking said actuating means in inoperative position.

3. In a time indicating device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the actuating means for the hand operating gearing embodies a stem mounted in the casing to have axial and rotative movement and having a part extending to the exterior of the casing with means thereon for imparting rotary and axial movement thereto, and the means for locking said actuating means in inoperative position comprising an abutment adapted to be moved into and out of the path of the axial movement of said stem.

4. In a time indicating device, a casing, a clock dial mounted in the casing for visual observation, hour and minute hands mounted concentrically in the casing centrally of the dial for movement relative thereto, gearing for operatively connecting and rotating the one hand from the rotation of the other hand, a stem mounted in the casing to have axial and rotative movement and having a part extending to the exterior of the casing with means thereon for imparting axial and rotary movement thereto, and means to lock the axially movable stem in position with the gear thereon out of mesh with the pinion of the hand operating gearing comprising a rod mounted in the casing for rotation on an axis transverse to the axis of the stem with one end of the rod bent laterally and adapted to be moved into and out of the path of the axial movement of the stem by the rotation of the rod, and the opposite end of the rod arranged in line with an opening in the easing and having a slot therein for the engagement of a key inserted in the casing opening to rotate the rod.

Signed at the city of New York in the county of New York and State of New York this 12th day of November, 1926.

BENJAMIN F. HUTCHES, JR. 

